Again, apologies for disappearing off my blog - right now I can't download images onto my blog from my desktop computer -very irritating to say the least - plus, my full time job has been keeping me on the run recently - and I've been involved in some fundraising events of late but I miss my blogging so will do my best to get back on track. In October, artist John Newdigate contacted me after coming across my blog - we've since been emailing back and forth between Ireland and South Africa so I'm posting some beautiful examples of his work along with a short interview.
Nenaghgal: I know you've been working in ceramics since 1991, but what got you into this? and how did you go about setting up a business?John: At an early age I was introduced to clay by a family friend, Barbara Bruce, who lives in an old house overlooking the bay. She kindly allowed me to work in her studio and offered help and encouragement as required. Her house has a wonderful atmosphere - quite musty and dusty, full of beautiful art collected by generations of her family as well as herself. All this within earshot of the waves crashing on the rocks below her studio left an indelible mark.
Nenaghgal: Tell me a bit about this town, you live at a foot of a mountain...where is it?John: As often happens to seaside villages, Kalk Bay suddenly became trendy and expensive. It seems that the fishermen- artists-well to do sequence plays out all over the world, and as an artist- potter, the required space became too expensive to maintain.
Together with my partner, we settled in Swellendam, a small historical town 200km east of Cape Town, where we could afford to buy a small piece of land and build a house. Being 80km inland and at the foot of a 1700m high mountain, Swellendam offered the opportunity to experience living in a leafy environment, in contrast to the salty, wind-swept one I was used to. This has lead to an earthy element in my work, bu the ocean, it's creatures and plants, remain a constant source of wonder and a challenge to capture the essence of.
Nenaghgal: You speak about your childhood memories of Kalk Bay - does this also fuel your inspiration?John: Growing up in a fishing village, where life was centred around the fleet of small wooden boats returning at lunch time each day, was bliss for me. Every weekend, all school holidays, when the weather allowed, would be spent fishing at sea. Sometimes I would "bunk" school in order to go to sea. It was not just the marine life and sea-scape that intrigued me, but also the expectations and trepidations of the crew, heading out of the harbour before sunrise, not knowing whether the day would bring good rewards, disappointment or tragedy. Each time we baited a hook and watched it sink into the bottle green depths, we had no idea what could be at the end of it when the hand line was retrieved.
We saw dolphins, whales, sea-birds, huge sharks chasing seals, schools of fish streaking under the boat. The excitement of hooking a really big fish would often turn to dismay in the instant of losing it at the side of the boat.
I must mention here that Kalk Bay was one of the very few places in apartheid South Africa where the racial separation laws were never enforced. The original inhabitants are descended from slaves brought out by the Dutch East India Company from Indonesia in the 17th century, to catch fish for the Europeans. As sea port tend to do, a melting pot developed and Kalk Bay attracted many newcomers of all races, cultures and classes who were opposed to the racial segregation laws of the day.
Nenaghgal: How many different lines have you developed?John: Many! I have been criticised by some for being "all over the place" stylistically speaking, but I do not want to shackle myself creatively.
Nenaghgal: What are you working on now?John: Right now, I am working on "Seafood Extravaganza Platters". They are extension of the fish bowls (below) I've done but incorporate all the fruits of the sea: langoustines, soles, sardines, rays, urchins, crabs, cockles and mussels. They will be made up of the sea life elements themselves, so there will be no bowl to speak of, rather a conglomeration of sea creatures making up the bowl or platter or vase.
Nenaghgal: So, where do you sell your products?John: I supply small galleries around Cape Town mostly, and one in Johannesburg and another in Durban, the two other big cities in South Africa. Two years ago I was approached by the Conran Shop's then creative director, Polly Dickens after Sir Terence Conran himself had singled out one of my bowls from a table of samples from all over the world at their annual buyers meeting. There was great mutual excitement and a huge order was places by their branches in New York, London, Paris, Dublin, Milan and Tokyo.
It seemed like a dream come true but I quickly realized that it would be impossible for me to meet the deadlines. I was working from 5am until 8pm trying in vain to fill the order. Much to my amazement they were very understanding and waited paying me part of the value of the order upfront. After six months of working very hard, I realised that without a factory it would be impossible to complete the order. They paid me for everything I had made and shipped the work off to the London and Paris branches. It felt a bit like losing a big fish at the side of the boat but it was a valuable lesson and good to get the endorsement from the widely acclaimed design icon Sir Terrence Conran.
I hope you've enjoyed seeing these examples of John's work.
I'm really looking forward to seeing John's "Seafood Extravaganza Platters" come to life and I will be sure to do another blog post on him when they do. In the meantime, do check out his own website -
John Newdigate.
